Which is funny, because we’ve often suggested environmentally friendly cleaning products, such as Seventh Generation dishwashing detergent, to customers because we’ve foundits lack of phosphates actually prevents cloudiness and etching.

Residual proteins from leftover foods activate the detergent’s cleaning enzymes. So if you’ve cleaned all or most of the food off your dishes, the detergent can’t activate and stays in its crystal format, scratching your dishes on a microscopic level.

Not only does this save energy, but older dishwashers don’t run as long as new dishwashers — better designed for less-harsh detergents – – and so every minute counts. Don’t waste it with lukewarm water that’s being heated up.

Good catch, J T. I should’ve addressed that, because it certainly is an issue. And if you could see how I wince when I see wasted water go down the drain…

When I’ve suggested this tip before, I’ve included the trick many smart homeowners use at all times. When waiting for the tap water to reach a certain temperature, use a pitcher to catch all the unused water. Use this water for other tasks such as watering plants or cleaning.

The wash cycle mostly does start before the water is hot. Most dishwashers are on a timer so after a certain amount of time, the dishwasher stops heating the water — regardless of whether that water is still lukewarm — and begins washing. Only in the last couple years have higher-end brands such as Bosch and Miele begun incorporating water heaters into the units themselves.